region of the just to the south of it is sub-saharan after can where we derive a great deal of our energy imports. places like nigeria and other places are very sensitive. just to the north this is libya which is still very, very unsettled. algeria which is yet to face the arab spring and reform. and north africa and egypt. this is a very critical region on the boarders of several areas that are very sensitive right now. jenna: what are the islamists doing in that area right now? >> well they're imposing their harsh brand of rule. they have destroyed a number of world heritage sites. islamic monuments ironically enough. they're imposing brutal punishments upon the people. more importantly from the security side they're digging themselves in and threatening neighboring states, some of which are already very fragile. jenna: what kind of threat does this specific group pose us here at home? >> well it poses the threat, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, the al qaeda affiliate sort of spearheading all this has been linked to the attacks by some on the consulate in benghazi. it was involved in a